Improving The Health Of Your Adoptive Dog

Adopting a dog is one of the most amazing things that you can do – giving a dog who has been given up if not abandoned or subjected to cruelty, a new and loving home is wonderful.

You can literally save a life through adoption, and the love that you receive off any dog is matched by nothing. But dogs who have been mistreated often come with some health issues, and even after some time in a shelter, they might still need some help improving their health.

It can be such a simple thing to integrate these changes – no matter if you adopt or buy, a new dog means changes in your life anyway, and these changes are no different.

Exercise

Obesity in dogs is as much an act of cruelty as malnourishment. But both treatments involve the right exercise for that dog combined with a measured diet.

For dogs who are overweight, you might need to consider the effects that weight has had on their joints, which might have caused arthritis to set in, and so short bursts of calm exercise often throughout the day is perfect. And if you can take them swimming, the pressure that can relieve would be bliss.

For malnourished dogs, you need to temper their new found energy while they build up their strength. Hydrotherapy can be great to help them build muscle in a controlled environment.

Diet

No matter your dog’s history, the right food is always important.

You should always measure out their meals and factor treats into that equation. You can also have food customized for your dog, or buy premium brands that are tailored to your dog’s needs.

Older dogs need different vitamins and proteins than puppies, and if your dog is recovering from malnutrition or an illness, they might need blander food to help them recover.

Extra Vitamins

A well-balanced diet and regular exercise is perfect for your dog and will do wonders towards getting them perfectly healthy again, but you might also need to consider pill treats for dogs to give them some extra vitamins when they need it.

Even once they are healthy and well, tablets like these can be great for ensuring they have a healthy coat and teeth.

Vet Checks

Take your dog to the vets regularly while they are still new to your family so that their progress can be checked.

And even after your dog is perfectly healthy, you should take them for a checkup each year as well as take them for their yearly booster injections.

Flea and Worm

Monthly flea and worm treatment is something that you should be doing for your dog regardless of its history, but when your dog got to the shelter it might have needed extra treatment for all manner or parasites, and for some this treatment might be ongoing.

Grooming

Medicated shampoo might be needed, but otherwise, you should groom your adopted dog the same as you would any other canine friend.

Keeping long coats tangle free is extremely important as mats can form so easily on dogs causing irritation and pain.

Grooming also extends to maintaining their claws and pads – taking them to a groomer is a great way for them to become accustomed to being tended to, and at home, you can even get a doggy moisturizer to help keep their pads from cracking in cold weather.

Improving The Health Of Your Adoptive Dog was last modified: February 2nd, 2018 by Nayara Ferreira